Fluid actuated valve



May 24 1960 D. E. GRlswoLD 2,937,660

FLUID ACTUATED VALVE Original Filed April 20. 1953 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 P/LTVAL VE INVENToR.

A 7'7' ORNE YS May 24, 1960 D. E. GRlswoLD 2,937,660

FLUID ACTUATED VALVE Original Filed April 20, 1953 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 May24, 1960 D. E. GRlswoLD FLUID ACTUATED VALVE original Filed April 2o.195s 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 ev L@ M w 4L www Mw N 4N T m zum m r Mme V@ W 0 m3 E. 4 m M W 5 DV. M B Z f w 7 M a w.` M mill.) w. lill 3 .AT Lij. E mi.riL 6 m May 24, 1960 D. E. GGGGGG LD 2,937,660

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FLUID ACTUATED VALVE Original Filed April 20, 1953 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 May24, 1960 D. E. GRlswoLD 2,937,660

' FLUID ACTUATED VALVE Original Filed April 20. 1953 i 8 Sheets-Sheet 6IN VEN TOR.

www E riswpld BY @www ATTORNEYS May 24, 1960 D. E. GRlswoLD FLUIDACTUATED VALVE 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Original Filed April 20, 1953 JNVENToR.wz'c] E. Gr/Wald 7'0 DUMP VALVE May 24, 1960 D. E. GRIswoLD FLUIDACTUATED VALVE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Original Filed April 20, 1953 `94INVENTOR.

E. @risvolti FLUID ACTUATED VALVE David E. Griswold, Newport Beach,Calif.,rassignor to Donald G. Griswold, Alhambra, Calif.

Original application Apr. 20, 1953, Ser. No. 349,788 now Patent No.2,805,774, dated Sept. 10, 1957. Divided and this application July 23,1957, Ser. No. 673,615

An object is to provide a rotary pilot valve control for liquidseparating apparatus wherein the number of ports, and the area of theface of the pilot disc, are reduced to a minimum.

A further object is to provide a sub-assembly for use in liquidseparating apparatus comprising a float controlled pilot valve and adump valve adapted to be readily mounted as a unit in the lower end of asump chamber of the apparatus.

Briey, the invention comprises a fluid separating apparatus including `acasing and an inlet into which the mixture of immiscible liquids ispumped under pressure; an outlet for the lighter liquid; and meansbetween said inlet and outlet for effecting gravity separation andfiltering of the iiuids. The separator casing includes a deending legadjacent the discharge end thereof which serves as a sump or chamber inwhich the heavy liquid is adapted to collect by gravity. In the presentconstruction, the automatic control means for the apparatus is locatedin this sump.

A fluid pressure operable discharge valve for the light liquid isconnected with the outlet of the separator casing; and a fluid pressureoperable dump valve for the heavy liquid is associated with a pilotvalve and incorporated as a part of the control unit sub-assembly, fordraining the heavy liquid from the sump. A short-armed ball oat isdisposed in the sump and is of such character that it will sink in thelight liquid and be buoyantly supported by the heavy liquid. The pilotvalve is, of course, disposed in the sump and operated by the float sothat it is actuated in Aaccordance with variations in the level of theheavy liquid in the sump. Operating fluid under pressure is convenientlytaken from the sump and passes through a strainer and directly into thepressure chamber in the housing of the pilot valve. A firstl conduitconnects the pilot -valve with the fluid pressure operable dump valvefor the heavy component; a second conduit serves as `an exhaust conduitfor operating fluid, and preferably connects the pilot valve with theoutlet of the dump valve for `discharge to the atmosphere or to waste;and a third conduit (comprising two sections) connects the pilot valvewith a pressure responsive control valve associated with a uid pressureoperable valve controlling the discharge of the lighter component.

The pilot valve itself includes a rotatable, ported pilot disc, a portedseat for the pilot disc, and a uid distribution base; the pilot disc,seat and base having ports and y;

passages arranged so that: (l) when the level of the heavy liquid in thesump or oat chamber isV low, the float is in its down position andOrients the pilot disc so that the discharge valve for the light liquidis open and the `dump valve for the heavy liquid is closed; (2)

as the level of the heavy liquid in the oat chamber rises, the float iscorrespondingly raised and the pilot disc is moved through anintermediate position in which none of its ports register with any ofthe ports in the base of the pilot valve so that the discharge valveremains open and the dump valve remains closed; eventually, of course,

States Patent the heavy liquid in the sump or iloat chamber `above,

the predetermined maximum, the float will position the pilot disc sothat the discharge valve is immediately closed While the dump valveremains open, and moreover, operating iluid is delivered to a normallyclosed pressure switchv `controlling the operation of the dump, therebyeffecting opening `of the switch and interrupting the driving of thepump so that the supply of uid to the separator casing is automaticallystopped.

When the apparatus is employed to separate two immiscible liquids, theliquid under Vpressure in the apparatus is utilized as the `operatingmedium for the vdischarge and dump valves. The operating iiuid used tocontrol the discharge valve may be used for this purpose alone, or foractuating the pressure responsive pump control switch, or simultaneouslyfor both purposes. The use of the Working liquid, be it gasoline or someother liquid, vas the operating medium for the valves (and pump control)eliminates the necessity for an extraneous source of iluid underpressure, thus making the unit selfcontained.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, of an automatic fluidseparation apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view illustrating the dump valve, pilot valveand float assembly as viewed on the section line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. l; ,A

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the pilot valve and dumpvalve taken on the staggered line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 `andshowing the dump valve in plan view;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View through the dump valvetaken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View through the dump valvetaken on the line '7 7 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View taken on the line 8-8 ofFig. 5 and particularly illustrating the ports through which operatingiluid is supplied to the. pressure chamber of the dump Valve;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the auxiliary control valve and the strainerassociated with the discharge valve;

Fig. l0 is a vertical sectional View through one auxiliary control valveand strainer taken on the line 10-1'0 of Fig. 9; l

Fig. l1 is a plan View showing the discharge valve and thh auxiliarycontrol Valve and strainer associated thereh W1 Fig. 12 is a sideelevational view of the discharge valve, etc., shown in Fig. ll; v

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view throughvthe discharge Valve takenon the line 13-13 of Fig. 1l;

Fig. 14 is a horizontal sectional View through the mounting arm for thefloat taken on the line 14414 of Fig. 4;

y Fig. l5 is an enlarged vertical sectional View through the strainer,etc. for the pilot valve taken on the line 15-15 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 16 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 16-16 of Fig. 4and particularly illustrating the porting of the uid distribution baseof the pilot valve;

Fig. 1 7 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the position of the pilotdisc relative to the pilot seat corresponding to the low position of thefloat, wherein the discharge valve is open and the dump valve is closed;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary sectional view through the pilot disc and fluiddistribution base taken on the line 18-13 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 17 but showing the position of thepilot disc relative to its seat corresponding to an intermediateposition of the float wherein the discharge valve is still open and thedump valve is still closed;

Fig. 20 is an elevational View of the face of the pilot discparticularly illustrating the relative position of the ports thereof;

Fig. 21 isa view similar to Fig. 17 but shows the position of the pilotdisc relative to its seat corresponding to the maximum up position ofthe oat, wherein the discharge valve is closed, the dump valve is openand the pump is shut down; and

Fig. 22 is a sectional view taken on the line 22--22 of Fig. 21.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the uid separation apparatus isgenerally identified by the numeral 1 and includes an elongated,preferably horizontally disposed casing 2 closed at one end by a head 3and closed at its opposite end by a removable cover 4. The casing 2contains a replaceable filter element 5 of excelsior or any othersuitable material which is eifective as a ltering medium for removingforeign matter from the uids being separated and which is also eiectivefor producing gravity separation of any immiscible liquids passingthrough said casing, permitting the liquid L of the lower specificgravity to rise and the liquid H of the higher specific gravity to passdownwardly to the lowest portion of said casing.

The casing 2 has an inlet 6 in the upper part thereof adjacent the head4. A pipe nipple 7 has one end thereof threaded into the inlet 6 of itsopposite end connected with the outlet of a manually operable shut-offvalve 8. A pipe nipple 9 has one end thereof threaded into the inletside of the valve 8 and its opposite end is detachably coupled with asupply conduit 10. The supply conduit 10 is adapted to connected with asource of mixed, immiscible liquids to be separated, for example,gasoline contaminated with ordinary water, sea water, or other liquidhaving a greater specific gravity than gasoline. The mixed liquids areintroduced into the conduit 10 by a pump 10a under suflicient pressureto force the liquids through the filter element at a rapid rate. Thepump is adapted to be automatically shut oi in the event of the suddenintroduction of a large amount of the heavier liquid H which mightotherwise be discharged from the apparatus with the lighter component L,unless operation of the apparatus were discontinued, all as will beexplained more fully hereinafter.

The casing 2 is also provided with an outlet 11 in the upper partthereof adjacent the head 3, through which the liquid L of lowerspecific gravity may pass from the casing. The outlet 11 is connected bysuitable pipe ttings, generally indicated by the numeral 12, with theinlet chamber 13 of a hydraulically -or fluid pressure operabledischarge valve 14. As is best shown in Fig. 13, the valve 14 includes abody 15 having an outlet chamber 16 separated from the inlet chamber 13by a partition 17 having a valve seat 18 mounted thereon. A cover 19 issecured to the body 15 by means of a plurality of studs 20, a exiblediaphragm 21 being interposed between said valve body and cover. A valvestem 22 extends through the diaphragm 21 and is guided at its lower endin a boss 23 carried by the valve seat 18 4 and is guided at its upperend in a bushing 24 mounted in the cover 19. Diaphragm supportingwashers 25 and 26 are disposed above and below the diaphragm 21 and havethe valve stem 22 extending therethrough. A shoulder 27 is provided onthe valve stem and forms an abutment for a disc 28 that is engaged withand retains an annular sealing ring 29 in position on the washer 26. Thesealing ring 29 is adapted to engage the seat 18 to shut off ow throughthe valve 14. A nut 30 is mounted upon a threaded portion of the valvestem 22 above the washer 25 and secures the disc 28 and the washers 25and 26 in assembled relation with the diaphragm 21. A compression spring31 is disposed in a pressure chamber 32 provided in the cover 19 and hasits lower end engaged with the washer 25 and its upper end engaged withthe cover 19 and normally tends to urge the valve stem 22 toward closedposition against lineV pressure, whereby to etiect automatic closing ofthe main valve whenever the discharge pressure is insuiiicient to opensaid valve. The cover 19 has one end of a pipe nipple 33 mounted in anopening 35 axially aligned with the valve stem Z2, and a pipe cap 36 ismounted upon the opposite end of said pipe nipple 33 for effectingclosure thereof. A discharge pipe 37 is connected with the outletchamber 16 of the valve 14 for discharge of the lighter liquid into astorage tank or other receptacle (not shown). The manner in which thesupply and exhaust of operating fluid to and from the pressure chamber32 of the discharge valve 14 is controlled, will be described later.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the casing 2 is provided with a dependingcylindrical leg 38 located adjacent the head 3 and constructed toprovide a chamber '39 which serves the dual purpo'se of a float chamber,and a sump in which the heavy liquid can accumulate. The leg 38 is Openat its upper end and communicates directly with the interior of thecasing 2. The opening at the lower end of said leg forming the outletend for said chamber, is partially closed by a ring 40 welded thereto asindicated at 41. The ring 40 serves as a mounting for a subassemblyincluding a pilot valve P and a dump valve generally identified by thenumeral 42. The ring 40 is welded to the leg V38 as a manufacturingexpedient, it being obvious that an integral flange at the lower end ofsaid leg would serve as well.

The dump valve 42, as is best shown in Fig. 4, comprises a body 43having a horizontal flange 44 secured to the ring 40 by a plurality ofstuds 45 mounted in said ring, and nuts 46 mounted upon said studs. Thestuds 45 extend through a gasket 47, which is interposed between thering 40 and the -ange 44 and serves to provide a seal 'between said ringand ange. A bracket 48 has an annular base portion 49 disposedconcentrically with the ring 40 and secured to' the body 43 of the dumpvalve 42 by a plurality of screws 50, a gasket 51 being interposedbetween said base and body to provide a seal therebetween inthe regionof certain ports, as will be pointed out later. The bracket 48 includesan upright leg 52 that extends upwardly and to one side of the base 49,as best shown in Fig. 2. The upper end of the leg 52 includes agenerally square, integral portion 53 that serves as a housing for thepilot valve P. The ho'using portion 53 includes a vertical face 55 boredto provide a pressure chamber 56. A strainer assembly 58, best shown inFig. 15, includes a body 59 having a threaded extension 60 mounted inthe opening 57. The body 59 has an axial passageway 61 extendingtherethrough and a plurality of `grooves 62 are formed in the outerperiphery thereof. Radial po'rts 63 connect the passageway 61 with thegrooves 62. A cylindrical screen 64 surrounds the body 59 in the groovedregion thereof and a metallic screen retainer disc 65 is mounted upon ashoulder portion 66 of said body and holds the screen 64 in place. Theouter end of the passageway 61 is threaded and a screw 67 is mountedtherein with its head engaging the disc 65 and securing vsaid disc to'the body 59; The purpose yof the screen assembly 58 is to strain liquidthat iiows therethrough to the pressure chamber 56 of the pilot valve Pto thus prevent foreign matter fromgentering said chamber.

Referring now to Fig. 4, the housing portion 53 has a journal opening 68in which a shaft 69 is rotatably mounted. The bracket 48 is providedwith an upwardly extending lug 70 having a jo'urnal opening 71 intowhich the shaft 69 projects, so that the shaft -69 is supported forrotation at two points. A driver 72 is disposed in the pressure chamber56 and fixed to one end of the shaft 69. A pilot disc 73 is alsodisposed in the chamber 56 in -axial alignment with the shaft 69. Theouter periphery of the pilot disc 73 is vcut away to receive acylindrical skirt 74, which is soldered or brazed to the disc, asindicated at 75 and 76 in Fig. 18. The skirt 74 projects axially beyondthe disc 73 and is provided with notches 77 for the reception of .matinglugs 78 carried by the driver 72. The notches 77 and lugs 78 thusprovide a positive driving connection between the shaft 69 and the pilotdisc 73. The pilot disc is quite small in diameter, i.e., 1/2'", so thatonly a small force is required to rotate 'it even when the pressure o'fthe operating iluid is quite high. A compression spring 79 is disposedbetween the driver 72 and the pilot disc 73 and normally urges said discinto engagement with the seat 80 formed on a Huid distribution base l81.A thrust washer 82 is disposed between the driver 72 and the adjacentwall of the pressure chamber 56 to avoid wear which might otherwiseoccur between the driver 72 and the housing portion 53.

A oat arm 83 is dispo'sed between the housing portion 53 and the lug 70and is lxedly secured to the shaft 69 by a screw v84 in the manner bestillustrated in Fig. v14. The arm 83 has a threaded opening 85 that isoffset on an angle of about 161/2 from a line perpendicular to the axisof the shaft 69. A threaded stud 86 has one end thereof mounted in theopening 85 and its other end is secured to a ball float 87 by weldingVindicated at 88. The object of disposing the opening 85 at an angle withrespect to the vertical plane of the lloat arm 83 is to provide fordisposition of the float 85, substantially centrally within thecylindrical leg 38.

The distribution base 81 is substantially square in configuration, asbest shown in Fig. 16, and is secured to the correspondingly squarepilo't valve housing '53 by a plurality of mounting screws 89. In thepresent construction, it is unnecessary to employ a gasket between thedistribution base 81 and the pilot housing 53 since the pressureexteriorly of the chamber 56 is the same as that within said chamber.Likewise, it is unnecessary to provide a seal around the shaft 69 whereit extends through the opening `68 in the pilot valve housing 53, sincethe pressures on the shaft are balanced. Thus, the cost of manufacturingthe pilot valve is reduced and the assembly of the parts is facilitated.Y

The porting of the pilot disc 73 is best shown in Figs. 4, 18 and 20,and the porting of the fluid distribution base 81 is best shown in Figs.4 and 16. Referring kirst to Figs. 4, 18 and 20, the pilot disc 73 hastwo through o'r pressure ports 90 and 91 spaced about 94 apart (Fig.20), and an axial drain port 92. Radial drilled holes or ports 93 and 94are spaced about 110 apart and about 78 from the nearest pressure ports90 and 91, and intersect with the axial exhaust port 92 and these, inturn, are intersected by exhaust ports 95 and 96, respectively, disposedparallel with the exhaust port 92.

As is best shown in Fig. 20, the pressure port 91 is disposed on aradial line y, about 4 to one side of a diametrical line x. On the otherhand, the exhaust port 95 is disposed on a radial line z, about 4 fromand on the same side of the diametrical line x as the port 91. The otherpressure port 90 is disposed on a radial line y' lying about 82counterclockwise about the center of and from the diametrical line x andthe other. exhaust port '6 96 is disposed on a radial line lz' lyingabout 74" counterclockwise about the center of and from said vdiametri'-cal line. It will be understood that the outer ends of the radialexhaust ports 93 and 94 are blocked by the skirt 74 so that operatinguid can flow through the pilot disc 73 from the pressure chamber 56 onlyupon entering either of the pressure ports or 96.

The duid distribution ybase 81 (Fig. 16) has an axial exhaust port 97that is in constant communication with the axial exhaust port 92 of thepilot disc 73. Additional ports 98 and 99 are ydisposed upon adiametrical line w on opposite sides of the exhaust port 97. The ports97, 98, and 99 all extend inwardly into the base 81 from the face of theseat 80, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4. The ports 90, 91, 95 and 96 ofthe pilot disc 73 and the ports 98 and 99 of the fluid distribution base81 are all disposed the same radial distance from the axis of theexhaust ports 92 and 97, respectively, so that certain of the disc portscan be brought into registration with the ports of the base uponsuitable angular rotation of the pilot disc 73 relative to the seat 80,as will be plained more fully hereinafter.

The port 97 (Fig. 4) communicates with a passageway 100 in the base 81which is threaded at its outer end and has a conventional itting y101mounted therein. One end of an exhaust conduit 102 'is connected to theiitting 101 and its opposite end extends into an opening 1028l in thebase 49 of the bracket 48. The conduit 102 is connected to the bracketbase 49 and is sealed against leakage relative to said base by solderingor brazing the same to the base as indicated at 103. The opening 1028lis vertically aligned with an exhaust port 104 in the body 43 of thedump valve 42 and communicates with an outlet passage 105 formed infsaidbody. The gasket S1 prevents leakage between the body 43 and the bracketbase 49 at the port 104. A pipe 106 has one end thereof threaded in thepassage 105 for conducting lluid exhausted through the conduit 102 tothe atmosphere or to a suitable drain.

The base port 99 (Figs. 4 and 16) communicates with 'the inner end of avertical passageway 107 in the base 81 below the exhaust port 97, andIthe outer end of said passageway is threaded and has a conventionaltting 108 mounted therein. One end of a dump valve control conduit 109is connected to the tting 108 and the opposite end of said conduitprojects into an opening 110, Fig. 8, extending through the bracket base49, and is connected to said base by soldering or brazing 111. Theopening 110 registers with a passageway '112 formed in the dump valvebody 43, and the passageway 112, in turn, registers with a vertical port113 formed in a cover 114 secured to the body 43 by a plurality ofscrews 115. A exible diaphragm 116 is disposed between the body 43 andcover 1214, the diaphragm 116 and cover 114 cooperating to provideasealed cham-ber 117 for operating fluid Vunder pressure. The ychamber1117 and the port 113 are interconnected by an angular port 118 thatintersects the port 113 adjacent its lower end.

The valve ybody 43 (Fig. 4) has an annular, upwardly projectingflangeproviding an inlet opening 119 disposed concentric with the bracket base49 and extending through said base. An elongated cylindrical member 120has the upper end thereof threaded into the lower end ofthe inletopening 119 and its lower end 121 functions as a valve seat andseparates the inlet opening 119 from the outlet opening 105. Washers 122and 123 are disposed Vabove and below the Idiaphragm 116 and serve tosupport the same. The washer 122 is adapted to be received in .anopening 124 in the valve ybody 43 and is recessed on its upper side toreceive a resilient valve disc 125. A bolt 126 extends through the valve`disc 125, the washer 122, diaphragm 116 and washer 123, and securesAthese parts in assembled relation. A compression spring 127 is disposedbetween the washer 123 and the cover y114 and normally urgesthe discvinto engagement with the valveseat 121 -toshut oi iiow through the valve42. A cup-shaped screen or strainer 128 is centered with respect to theopening 119 by a boss 129 and has a flange 130 at its lower end whichprojects under the bracket base 49 and is maintained in assembledrelation with the valve body 43 by said base. The purpose of the screen128 is to prevent foreign matter from entering the dump valve 42.

The valve body 43, Fig. 4, has a drain passageway 131 opening into thesump chamber 39 and has an outlet in which one end of a pipe 132 ismounted. A manually operable drain valve .133 is connected in the pipe132 and is adapted to be opened to blow down the cham ber 39 to removesludge or other foreign matter that may have collected therein.

Referring again to Figs. 4 and 16, the port 98 in the pilot base 81communicates with the inner end of a vertical passageway-134 disposedabove the exhaust port 97, the outer end of said passageway beingthreaded and having a conventional fitting '135 mounted therein. Thetitting 135 is connected to one end of a section 136a of a dischargevalve control conduit 136, and the opposite end of said section isconnected to a conventional fitting 137 mounted in the vupper end of athreaded opening 138 formed in the valve body 43 on a radial linedisposed outwardly of the passageway 112, as best shown in Fig. 8. Aconventional T-litting 139 has its stem connected with the lower end ofthe passageway 138 and one end of another section 136b of the dischargevalve control conduit 136 is connected to one side of said fitting. Theopposite end of the conduit section 136b is connected by a conventionalfitting 140 to the cover 141 of an auxiliary control valve 142 for thedischarge valve 14.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the parts of the pilotvalve P may be assembled with the bracket 48 and the conduits 102 and109 soldered or otherwise connected to the base 49 of the bracket beforethe bracket is fastened by the screws 50 to the assembled dump valve 42.Thereafter, the conduit section 136a may be connected to the pilot valveP and also to the fitting 137, so that a sub-assembly consisting of thebracket 48, the complete oat-controlled pilot valve P, the conduits 102,109 and 136', and the dump valve 42 can be mounted as a unit upon thering 40 at the lower end of the chamber 39. The conduit section 136b canthen be readily connected with the T-titting 139 and with the tting 140to complete the connections between the pilot valve P and the valvescontrolled thereby.

The pilot valve P and its directly associated conduits are thus enclosedand protected from possible damage which might otherwise occur if thepilot valve were located exteriorly of the cylindrical leg 38. Moreover,the shortness of the float arm 83, and the incorporation of the pilotvalve housing 53 as an integral part of the bracket 52 reduces thenumber of parts required and makes it possible to employ a cylindricalleg 38 of minimum diameter. The positioning of the pilot control meanswithin the cylindrical leg also reduces the bulk of the apparatus, whichis of extreme importance when the apparatus must be installed in limitedspace.

The valve 142 is shown in cross-section in Fig. 10 wherefrom it will beapparent that the valve comprises a body 143 having an outlet chamber144 to which one end of a conduit 145 is connected by a conventionalfitting 146. The opposite end of the conduit 145 is connected by afitting 147 with the outlet chamber 16 of the discharge valve 14. Thevalve 142 has an inlet chamber 148 separated from the outlet chamber 144by a partition 149 provided with a seat 150. The cover 141 is mounted onthe valve body 143 by a plurality of screws 152, a flexible diaphragm153 being interposed between the valve body and said cover. Diaphragmsupporting washers 154 and 155 are arranged above and beextends throughthe valve disc 156, the washer 155, the diaphragm 153 and is threadedinto an opening 158 in the washer 154 for securing the valve disc andwashers in assembled relation with the diaphragm 153. A compressionspring 159 is disposed between the washer 154 and the cover `141 andnormally urges the disc 156 toward the seat to close the valce 142. Thecover 141 is recessed and cooperates with the diaphragm 153 to provide apressure chamber 160 to receive operating uid from the discharge valvecontrol conduit 136.

One end of a pipe nipple 161 (Fig. l0) is threaded lnto the inletchamber 148 of the valve 142 and the oppostte end of said nipple isthreaded into an opening 162 1n a plug 163. The plug 163 is threadedinto a chamber 164 formed in a strainer housing 165 and said plug has anorifice 166 establishing communication between the chamber 164 and thepipe nipple 161. The housing has a lateral opening 167 in which one endof a p lpe 168 (Fig. 11) is mounted, the opposite end of sald plpe beingconnected to the inlet charnber 13 of the discharge valve 14 by afitting 169. The pipe 168 communicates with a chamber 170 in the housing165 and a conventional strainer assembly 171 is threadedly mounted 1nsald chamber. The chambers 164 and 170 are separated by a partition 172,and the strainer assembly 171 has a nozzle 173 that extends through thepartition 172 1n axial alignment with the orifice 166. A sealing ring174 surrounds the nozzle 173 and forms a seal between the parution 172and the adjacent wall of the strainer assembly 171. Thus, the pipe 168,nipple 161, and conduit 145 provide a bypass line in which the strainerhousmg 165 and the -valve 142 are connected in series.

The housing 165 (Fig. 10) also has a threaded opening 175 on the upperside thereof in which a conventional titting 176 is mounted. One end ofa branch conduit 177 1s connected to the iitting 17 6 and the oppositeend of said conduit is connected by conventional fittings 178 (Fig. 13)with the pressure chamber 32 in the discharge valve 14. Thus, it will beseen that uid can flow from the inlet chamber 13 of the valve 14 throughthe pipe 168, into the housing 165, through the strainer assembly 171,then through the conduit 177 to the pressure chamber 32 of the valve 14to act upon the diaphragm 21 to etect closing of said valve. Theforegoing is based upon the presumption that the valve 142 is closed, sothat uid cannot pass from the housing 165 through the valve 142 to theoutlet chamber 16 of the valve 14, to thus be bypassed around thepressure chamber 32. The capacity of the valve 142, of course, isgreater than that of the nozzle 173 and orifice 166, so that when thevalve 142 is open, operating uid for the valve 14 will merely bebypassed from the inlet chamber 13 of the valve 14 to the outlet chamber16 of said valve, without flowing into the branch conduit 177. When thevalve 142 is open, the nozzle 173 and orifice 166 function as an ejectorto facilitate the withdrawal of operating uid from the pressure chamber32 of the valve 14 through the conduit 177 to elfect quick opening ofthe discharge valve 14. Thus, the valve 14 will either be in an openstate or closed, depend ing upon whether the bypass control valve 142 isopened or closed. The valve 142 is controlled by the pilot valve P, in amanner which will be described later.

The capacity of the nozzle 173 of the strainer 171 is also greater thanthat of the pressure port 90 of the pilot disc 73, so that the use ofthe valve 142 makes it possible to cause the discharge valve 14 tooperate faster than it would if the supply and exhaust of operatingfluid for the valve 14 were required to iiow through the pilot valve.However, in installations where the discharge valve is small, it can bedirectly controlled by the pilot valve by connecting the conduit 136D tothe pressure chamber 32 and omitting the bypass line containing thevalve 142.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the pump `1t)a is driven by an electric motor180 connected with the pump by a con- 75 ventional coupling 181. Aconduit 182 has one end theref aoevgeeo 9 of connected to one side ofthe T-tting 139 and its opposite end is connected by a fitting 183 tothe pressure chamber of a normally closed, conventional,pressure-responsive switch 184. A valve 185 is connected in the conduit182 to render the switch inelfective, when this is desired. Conductors186 and 187 are connected with the switch 18-4 and leads `186a and 187aconnect the switch 184 to the motor 180. A switch 188 is connected inthe circuit in parallel with the switch 184 for manually controlling themotor 180 independently of the switch 184.

One of the features of the present invention is that the operation ofthe piunp 10BM can be automatically controlled so that it will be shutoff at times when an excess of the liquid having the greater specificgravity is present in the oat chamber 39. The pump 10a can also be shutdown substantially simultaneously with the closing of the dischargevalve 14. Thus, as will be apparent from Fig. 1, the pressure of theoperating iiuid allowed to flow through conduit sections 1369L and 136bto the pressure chamber of the control valve 142 is communicated throughthe conduit 182 to the pressure switch 184 for effecting opening of saidswitch to thereby interrupt the circuit to the motor 180 when the manualswitch 188 is open. Thus, the closing of the discharge valve 14will`normally be accompanied by the opening of the pressure switch 184,so that the supply of Huid to the separator casing 2 will be stopped. Ofcourse, and as will be explained later, the dump valve 42 is also openat such time and as the level of the heavy liquid H drops, the float 87will be correspondingly lowered and rotate the pilot disc 73 through acorresponding angle. Eventually the pilot disc 73 will be positioned sothat it will effect closing of the dump valve 42 and opening of thedischarge valve 14, the latter resulting from the exhaust of operatingfluid from the pressure chamber of the control valve 142. It will alsobe understood that, as the pressure drops in the conduit 136, thepressure switch 184 will automatically close and restart the motor 180and drive the pump 10a to resume the supply of fluid to the casing 2. Itwill be clear, from Figs. 4, 8 and 18, that when the pressure port 9.1of the pilot disc 73 is in registration with the base port 99(exaggerated in size in Fig. 18 to facilitate illustration), operatingfluid .under pressure can ow from the pressure chamber 56 of the pilotvalve P through the dump valve control conduit 109, then through thepassageway 112 in the valve body 43 yand thence through the ports 113`and 118 and into the pressure chamber 117 to urge the diaphragm 11.6upwardly and thereby move the valve disc 125 into engagement with theseat 121 to close the dump valve 42. At the same time, the exhaust port95 of the pilot disc 73 substantially completely registers with the port98 in the base 81, so that operating fluid is exhausted from thepressure chamber 160 of the bypass valve 142, through the conduitsections 136b and 136a of the discharge valve control conduit 136,thence through the port 98 in the' base 81, through the exhaust passagein the pilot disc 73provided by the ports 92, 93 and 95, into theexhaust port 97 of the pilot valve base 81, thence through the exhaustconduit 102, and into the exhaust port 104 and outlet passage 105 in thevalve body 43 for ultimate discharge through the waste pipe 106. Thus,the operating huid bypass control valve 142 is allowed to open so thatoperating iluid under pressure normally derived from the inlet chamber.13 of the discharge valve 14 is bypassed tothe outlet Vchamber 16 ofthe valve 14, instead of owing to the pressure chamber 32 of the valve14 through the branch conduit 177, Actually, and as indicatedhereinbefore, when the bypass valve 142-is open, the nozzle 173 and theorice 166 function as an ejector to rapidly Withdraw operating fluidfrom the pressure chamber 32 to allow the valve 14 to open quickly.Thus, when the pilot disc 73 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 17,the discharge valve 14 is open and the dump valve 42`is closed. The'conduit 182 -is open to exhaust so that the pressure y10 switch 184 isdosed. 'this position of the piioi disc 73 correspondsto the full downposition of the float 87 corresponding to a level of the heavy liquid Hindicated at A in Fig. l. -In this connection, downward movement of thefloat 87 is limited by the engagement of the float f arm 83 with amilled surface `179 on the bracket 48, as shown in dot-and-dash lines inFig. 2, the pilot disc 73 then actually being in the position relativeto the seat shown in Fig. 4.

The dump valve 42 will remain closed and the discharge valve 14 willremain open so long as the levelv of the water or heavier liquid H inthe float chamber 39 lies between the planes indicated by the lines Aand B, When the water level has reached the plane B, the float arm 83will have moved through an angle of about 45 or suflicient to effectrotation of the pilot disc 73 counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 19,from its lowermost operative position shown Vin Fig. 17 to anintermediate position in which the exhaust ports and 96 of said pilotdisc are positioned intermediate the ports 98 and 99 in the base 81 ofthe pilot valve so that operating iluid under pressure is neitherexhausted from nor supplied to the pressure chamber 117 of the dumpvalve 42, thus maintaining the dump valve closed, and the pressurechamber of the bypass valve 142 remains in a condition of exhaust sothat the discharge valve, which it controls, also remains open.

Should the water level in the oat chamber 39 continue to rise to a level-above the plane B, the pilot disc 73 will be further .rotated in aclockwise direction to another intermediate position in which theexhaust port 96 will begin to overlap the base port 99, as will bereadily visualized from Fig. 19, to exhaust operating fluid from thepressure chamber 117 of the dump valve 42 and allow said valve to opento drain water from the sump chamber 39 through the pipe 106. Theexhaust port 96 will register with the base port 99 through labout an 8movement of the float arm 83, corresponding to a rise in water level tothe plane C, Fig. 1, before the pressure port 90 starts to overlap thebase port 98, In other words, while the water level isrising from thelevel B to the level C, the dump valve 42 is allowed to open, while thedischarge valve 14 continues to remain open. However, should the waterlevel rise above the plane C, the pressure port 90 will begin to overlapwith the base port 98, and when the water level reaches the plane D, thepilot disc 73 will assume the position shown in Fig.. 21, correspondingto the upper limit of travel of the float 87. It will be noted from Fig.2 that this upper limit is determined by the engagement'of the oat 87with the screen retainer disc 65, as shown in dot-and-dash lines. Thefloat arm 83v thus travels through a maximum angle of about 78 from itsinitial position.

It will be observed from Fig. 21 that the exhaust port 96 now completelyregisters with the port 991in the pilot valve base 81 (the port 99 beingexaggerated in size to facilitate illustration), and that the pressurechamber 117 of the dump valve 42 is open to exhaust to allow the dumpvalve 42 to remain open; whereas, the pressure port 90 of the pilot disc73 now substantially registers with the base port 98 to supply operatingiluid under pressure through thedischarge valve control 'conduit 136 tothe pressure chamber 160 of the bypass valve 142, thereby eifec'tingclosing of said bypass valve and causing operating fluid under pressuredelivered through the nozzle 173 of the strainer 171 to pass through thebranch conduit 177 to the pressure chamber 32 of the discharge valve 14to effect closing ofrsaid discharge valve, in the manner previouslydescribed.

It will also be apparent that simultaneous with the supply of operatingtluid to the valve 142, pressure will be communicated to the pressureswitch 184 to shut off the pump 10a, as also. Ahas been previouslydescribed. Of course, as the water level in the sump chamber 39 y11drops, the float 87 will be lowered, reversing the cycle of operation ofthe apparatus, i.e., resumption of the operation of the pump 16a, andclosing of the dump valve 42 about 8 of movement of the iloat arm 83 inadvance of the opening of the discharge valve 14.

Extremely sensitive operation of the gasoline water separation apparatusis effected at lall times by having the float chamber 39 in directcommunication with the lower part of the casing 2, so that there is norestriction in flow therebetween. This arrangement requires the oat 87to operate the pilot valve P in exact accord with variations in thevolume of water separated from the gasoline and collected in the sumpchamber 39. Great sensitivity of operation is also eiected by the use ofa pilot valve P having a small disc requiring very little force torotate the same. The pilot disc shaft 69 `is-directly connected with thearm 83 of the oat 87 so that the disc must rotate through the same angletraversed by the float arm, as the water level in the sump chamber 39varies. Such sensitive operation of the control means is essential inorder to control the valves 14 and 42 to eiect eilicient and rapidseparation of the water from the gasoline.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 349,788,tiled April 20, 1953, which issued into Patent No. 2,805,744, datedSeptember 10, 1957.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the details ofconstruction of the liquid separating apparatus disclosed herein, and inthe details of the control means provided for automatically andsirnultaneously controlling the operation of the discharge and dumpvalves, as well as the motor that drives the pump, without departingfrom the principles of the invention or the scope of the annexed claims.

I claim:

l. In a iluid separating apparatus, a subassembly, comprising: a fluidpressure operable valve including a body having a passageway includinginlet and outlet openings, a pressure chamber for operating uid, and anelement operable by said operating fluid for controlling flow from saidinlet to said outlet; a bracket having a base mounted on said bodysurrounding said inlet opening; a pedestal extending upwardly from saidbase; a pilot valve carried by said pedestal; an operating uid supplyconduit connected with said pilot valve; the conduit for said operatingfluid having one end connected with said pilot valve and its oppositeend in communication with the pressure chamber of said fluid pressureoperable valve for conducting operating fluid to and from said pressurechamber.

2. In a fluid separating apparatus, -a subassembly comprising: a uidpressure operable valve including a body having a passageway includingan inlet opening and an outlet opening, a fluid pressure operableclosure element controlling ilow between said openings, and a pressurechamber for operating iluid for actuating said element; a bracket havinga base mounted on said body surrounding said inlet opening; Va pedestalextending upwardly from said base; a pilot valve supported on saidpedestal; a conduit for operating Huid having one end connected withsaid pilot valve and its opposite end in communication with the pressurechamber of said uid pressure operable valve for supplying operatingiluid thereto for actuating said closure element; a secondconduit havingone end connected with said pilot valve and its opposite end incommunication with the outlet opening of said iiuid pressure operablevalve.

3. In a fluid separating apparatus, a subassembly, comprising: a fluidpressure operable dump valve including a body having an inlet, anoutlet, a uid pressure operable element controlling ow between saidinlet and outlet, and a pressure chamber for operating uid for actuatingsaid element; a strainer overlying said inlet; a bracket mounted on saidbody having an annular base surrounding said inlet and securing saidstrainer element on saidbody, said bracket including a pedestalextending upwardly from said base; a pilot valve on the upper end ofsaid pedestal; a conduit for operating fluid having one end connectedwith said pilot valve and its opposite endreceived in an openingextending through said bracket ibase, said valve body having passagemeans registering with said last-mentioned opening for supplyingoperating uid to said dump valve for actuating said closure element; asecond conduit having one end connected with said pilot valve and itsopposite end received in a second opening extending through said bracketbase, said valve ybody having passage means registering with said secondopening and establishing communication between said second conduit andsaid outlet of said dump valve.

4. In a uid separating apparatus, a subassembly comprising: a uidpressure operable valve including a body having a passageway includingan inlet opening and an outlet opening, a fluid pressure operableclosure element controlling ilow between said openings, and a pressurechamber for operating fluid for actuating said element; a bracket havinga base mounted on said body surrounding said inlet opening; a pedestalextending upwardly from said base; a pilot valve supported on saidpedestal; a conduit for operating fluid having one end connected withsaid pilot valve and its opposite end in communication with the pressurechamber of said uid pressure operable valve for supplying operating uidthereto for actuating said closure element; a second conduit having oneend connected with said pilot valve and its opposite end incommunication with the outlet opening of said uid pressure operablevalve; and a third conduit having one end connected with said pilotvalve and its opposite end in communication with an opening extendingthrough said body from one side thereof to the opposite side thereof.

5. In a uid separating apparatus, a subassembly comprising a iluidpressure operable valve including a body having inlet and outletopenings; a bracket mounted on said ybody and having an annular basesurrounding said inlet opening; a pedestal extending upwardly from saidbase; a pilot valve on said pedestal; a conduit for operating fluidhaving one end connected with said pilot valve and its opposite endreceived in an opening extending through said `base, said valve bodyhaving a pressure chamber for operating uid and having passage meansconnecting said last-mentioned opening with said pressure chamber.

6. In a iluid separating apparatus, a subassembly, comprising: a iluidpressure operable dump valve including a body having an inlet, anoutlet, and a pressure chamber for operating fluid; a bracket mounted onsaid body and having an annular base surrounding said inlet; a pedestalextending upwardly from said base; a pilot valve on the upper end ofsaid pedestal; means for conducting operating iluid from said pilotvalve to said pressure chamber of said dump valve; and a conduit forexhausting operating iluid from said pilot valve having one endconnected with said pilot valve and its opposite end received in anopening extending through said base, said valve body having passagemeans connecting said opening with said outlet.

7. In a uid separating apparatus, a subassembly comprising: a iluidpressure operable valve including a body having an inlet opening, anoutlet opening, a fluid pressure operable closure element controllingflow between said openings, and a pressure chamber for operating uid foractuating said element; a bracket having a base mounted on said bodysurrounding said inlet opening; a pedestal extending generally upwardlyfrom said base and being bowed outwardly of said inlet opening andhaving a concave side; a pilot valve supported adjacent the top of saidpedestal; a float member mounted inwardly of said pilot member on theconcave side of said pedestal and operatively connected with said pilotvalve to actuate said pilot valve, said float member being positioned inspaced relation and substantially vertically above said inlet penngi andconduit means for operating uid having one end connected with said pilotvalve and its opposite end in communication with the pressure chamber ofsaid iluid pressure operable valve for supplying operating fluid to, andexhausting operating fluid from, said pressure chamber for actuatingsaid closure element.

8. In a fluid separating apparatus, a sub-assembly comprising: a iluidpressure operable valve including a body having a mounting flange, saidbody including a drain passageway having an inlet opening accessiblefrom one side of said flange and an outlet opening accessible from theother side of said ange; a valve seat in said drain passageway; amovable valve element cooperable with said valve seat to control the owin said passageway between said openings; a uid pressure operableelement connected to said valve element and a pressure chamber foroperating iluid for actuating said uid pressure element; a brackethaving a base mounted on said body surrounding said inlet opening; apedestal extending upwardly from said base; a pilot valve supported onsaid pedestal; conduit means for operating uid having one end connectedwith said pilot valve and its opposite end in communication with saidpressure chamber for supplying operating uid for actuating said valveelement; and a strainer overlying said inlet opening; said bracket baseengaging a portion of said strainer to secure the strainer to the body.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 569,841Sandillon Oct. 20, 1896 677,458 Lloyd July 2, 1901 2,548,354 Davies Apr.10, 1951 2,548,368 Hartley Apr. 10, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS t 58,047Germany Aug. 6, 1891 770,448 France Iune 25, 1934

